Raiders Rookie LT Menelik Watson To Miss A Month After Surgery

Sep 13, 2013 4:12 AM EST

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The Oakland Raiders just can’t stay healthy at left tackle. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Rookie LT Menelik Watson had arthroscopic surgery last week to repair a torn lateral meniscus, and he’s expected to miss at least a month while he recovers.

Watson, selected with the No. 42 overall pick out of Florida State in the draft earlier this year, was thrust into the starting position after incumbent starting LT Jared Veldheer went down to a torn triceps muscle and Alex Barron proved incapable of handling the starting job. They released Barron and elevated their second-round pick into the role, but it appears that they’ll have to wait a while longer before he can reclaim the position.

Now they’ll have to rely on RT Khalif Barnes to shift over to the opposite end of the line to protect Terrelle Pryor’s blind side, and Tony Pashos is probably going to be the interim starter at right tackle until the Raiders are ready to play musical chairs with their offensive line again.

Barnes is far from being a suitable replacement at left tackle, and it shows just how desperate the Raiders are to shore up the position. Oakland can only hope that Watson is able to beat, or at least make, his one-month timetable.